Treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma using anti-HER2 immunonanoshells

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, oral squamous cell carcinoma (potentially mediated by HER2) is recognized as the most commonly occurring malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. Anti-HER2 nanobodies conjugated to gold-silica nanoshells and used as photothermal treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma may provide a novel therapeutic alternative to current treatment for this disease. METHODS: KB epithelial or HeLaS3 cell cultures (controls) were exposed to these immunonanoshells, and plasmon resonance electron initiation specific to gold was employed to burn the tumor cells. RESULTS: Following this treatment, significant cell death occurred in the KB tumor cell cultures while there was no evidence of cellular damage or death in the HeLaS3 cell cultures. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that photothermal treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma has considerable advantages.